The General Directorate of Food Control, operating under Turkey’s Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, has announced the immediate closure of all livestock markets across Turkey, including Ankara Province, following a widespread outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease. The directive, issued on July 1, 2025, is a nationwide measure to curb the virus amid heightened animal movement during the Eid al-Adha period.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Turkey has directed the immediate closure of all livestock markets across the country, including Ankara Province, in response to a surge in foot-and-mouth disease cases. The order, issued on July 1, 2025, affects all 81 provinces and aims to curb the potential spread of the virus amid increased animal movement following the Eid al-Adha holiday.
The directive was communicated by the General Directorate of Food Control, a division of the ministry responsible for food safety and animal health. The agency emphasized that the post-Eid surge in livestock trade and visitor activity at animal markets poses a severe threat to controlling the outbreak.
In regions where confirmed cases have been identified, quarantine protocols have already been implemented. Authorities stated that while Turkey has a stockpile of foot-and-mouth disease vaccines, vaccinating the entire livestock population swiftly is not feasible due to technical limitations.
The official statement reads, “We request that all trading points operating in your province be closed immediately until further notice, as the intensive movement of animals and visitors at livestock markets and similar venues poses a high risk of disease spread.”
This move comes after a similar outbreak in early 2023, during which certain areas imposed temporary restrictions. The government hopes this preventive step will prevent widespread economic and agricultural losses.
Farmers and livestock traders across Turkey have been urged to comply with the closure and observe all health protocols to support containment efforts.
